Once the summer starts time flies; we get tied up with other things. One minute your at a memorial day bbq, drinking beer, talking about the upcoming oktoberfest……the next your at oktoberfest, drinking exceptional beer, talking about random nonesence because you’re drunk.

Prost!

You gotta love bier!! MIKE

The good news is cross’ fingers the dollar is starting to make a slow comeback. Now the stance of both Europe and the US is that the dollar needs to strengthen. Europe held interest rates although they may make a cut or two during the upcoming year, which would help the dollar tremendously. Seems the economic slowdown just took a little longer to be realized in europe and england.

Well sure. The European business owners have lost 2 or 3 billion bucks in the past 5 years alone – just from lack of U.S. & Canadian travel. Those who have still gone to Europe with the weak USD in recent years,,, have stayed shorter periods of time, and spent less. It would be better for all countries if the USD and EURO were equal. If it was one for one, hotels and airlines offered travel deals, things would be much better for everyone’s bottom line…MIKE

True, but it goes way beyond travel and tourism. The bigger problem is international commerce. Anyone who exports goods to the US can’t simply raise their prices to nullify the falling dollar. No one would pay an additional 50% for a TV, clothes, beer (ok well maybe we’d pay for beer), but you get the picture. In the end, the asian and european countries have to eat that loss from currency devaluation.

Ok but enough with this intellectual tangent…woohoo oktoberfest! beer! 133 days….

Yes. Commerce is effected even more, perhaps into the 100 billion range the past 5 years. MIKE

The USD has gained 5% in the past week or so. No bad. MIKE

It sunds crazy but i bet we get back to +/-$1.38 by the fest!

It sounds crazy but i bet we get back to +/-$1.38 by the fest!

GuyD: I hope and pray you be right sir! However, I just did a convert on XE.com

So, it’s still weak, but not as weak!

I say they move the Fest to Mexico while the euro is so strong

Please take every work of that back……… no offense to any Mexicans here, but I would gladly pay the Euro exhange to enjoy the Wiesn in glorious old Munich compared to Mexico

Here Here! However, a different fest in Cancun & Plaza del Carmen would be cool!

My wife would never let me go to Cancun without her….munich is enough of stretch.

GD: Same here brutha! I have been married almost 6 years, and I have had to take her with me to Munich every other year. The 3 times I have been to Mexico, and/or the Caribbean since 02,,, she has been with me.. Kind of makes it hard to scout for bronze-skinned beauties in skimpy bikini’s.. Darn wives!!!

this will be my first i sure hope i can handle it lol